HUNGER incidence among beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom program declined for the second consecutive quarter, Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said on Wednesday.
Mr. Gatchalian said the program, which began in 2023 under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to eradicate hunger, has so far reached 300,000 food-poor households nationwide.
“We are seeing early signs of success of the Walang Gutom Program. And as instructed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we will expand the program further to 600,000 beneficiaries in the second half of the year,” Mr. Gatchalian told reporters in Malacañang.
The latest tracking survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS), with funding support from Globe Telecom and Monde Nissin Corporation, showed a 7.2-percentage point drop in hunger among beneficiaries within six months.
Hunger prevalence, measured through self-rated hunger, fell to 41.5% in March 2025 from 48.7% at baseline in October 2024.
“The evidence consistently points to the positive impact of scaling up the Walang Gutom program to the food-poor population of the country,” said SWS fellow Roehlano M. Briones.
The rate of improvement among beneficiaries was six points higher compared with non-beneficiaries, he added, underscoring that the changes could be attributed directly to the program.
Significant gains were noted in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and adjacent provinces, where hunger incidence fell by 17.2 points to 37.7% from 55.1%.
Other clusters also recorded improvements, though at varying degrees.
Mr. Gatchalian said the government allocated P1.89 billion for the pilot phase covering the initial 300,000 households, with additional funds secured to support the expansion.
“We will not scale up a program if there are no sufficient funds and no evidence that it works,” he said.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the program also incorporates nutrition education and productivity interventions.
Beneficiaries attend sessions on proper diet and food preparation while also being linked to job fairs through the Department of Labor and Employment and skills training programs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
“The mandate of the DSWD is not only to provide material assistance but also to restore hope among Filipinos. That includes strengthening human capital and ensuring that families have sustainable income sources even after they exit the program,” Mr. Gatchalian said. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
